South Eastern Railway (GB)

From Stamps of the World
1861 map of the Kent county showing the then current lines of the South Eastern Railway.
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The South Eastern Railway (SER) was a railway company in south-eastern England from 1836 until 1922. The company was formed to construct a route from London to Dover. Branch lines were later opened to Tunbridge Wells, Hastings, Canterbury and other places in Kent. The SER absorbed or leased other railways, some older than itself, including the London and Greenwich Railway and the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway. Most of the company's routes were in Kent, eastern Sussex and the London suburbs, with a long cross-country route from Redhill in Surrey to Reading, Berkshire.

Much of the company's early history saw attempts at expansion and feuding with its neighbours; the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) in the west and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway (LCDR) to the north-east. However, in 1899 the SER agreed with the LCDR to share operation of the two railways, work them as a single system (marketed as the South Eastern and Chatham Railway) and pool receipts: but it was not a full amalgamation. The SER and LCDR remained separate companies until becoming constituents of the Southern Railway on 1 January 1923.

A South Eastern advert on the right of this card of the Clapton Omnibus shows "ERN" remove. This suggests the date of the picture is 1899/1900. The card was used in 1903.

SER Postal History

South Eastern stamp from the third printing with small numerals (22507). Addressed to, and cancelled in Bromley, 7 Aug 1894. No clue where it was posted!
South Eastern Railway fourth printing no 30019, Date 23.1.96 in manuscript and "Railway Post / 6.35 S.E.R.". Since the address said "Maidstone Station till called for" it didn't enter the Post Office system and both stamps are cancelled in violet "Strood Parcels Office".

SER Railway Letter Stamps

printing date colour perf controls Comments
1 25 Jan 1891 green 12 1-10000 no point after railway
2 21 Apr 1892 green; deep green 12 10001-20000 vertical at left
3 1 Sep 1893 yellowish green roul 20001-25000 small figures
3a 25001-30000 large figures
4 20 May 1895 green 12 30001-40000 small figures
5 17 Sep 1896 yellowish green 12 40001-50000 small figures
6 12 May 1898 green; yellowish-green roul 50001-60000 large figures


25 Jan 1891, first issue. #s 1 - 10000, here 461
21 April 1892, second issue. #s 10001 - 20000, here 13490
1 Sep 1893, third issue, small figures 20001-25000, here 24976, cancelled Ashford, JA 6 1895
1 Sep 1893, third issue, large figures 25001-30000, here 26996 cancelled Smeeth
20 May 1895, fourth issue, #s 30001 - 40000, here 35822
17 Sep 1896, fifth issue, #s 40001 - 50000, here 46735
12 May 1898, sixth issue, #s 50001 - 60000. here 57177